Chapter 539 The Melody Unfinished, The Player Gone
A Hong searched and found the scratch marks. Gong Wentao led the way, followed by the rest of the group.
Although Gong Wentao was a prisoner now, he wasn't restrained. It wasn't trust, but their sheer numbers that ensured he couldn't escape even if he was exhausted.
This large mountain was rarely traversed by people, otherwise, there would have been some signs of passage. Gong Wentao searched as he walked, having only been here once before and never venturing inside.
Meanwhile, A Sen was rushing towards the mountain with a team and a medical unit. By the time they reached the mountain, they only saw a few empty vehicles.
"Quick, everyone grab a loudspeaker and shout as we go up the mountain."
"There are traces of them going up the mountain here, hurry!"
But by this time, Gong Wentao and his team had found the entrance to the laboratory, only to be stuck outside, unable to find a way to open it.
The laboratory was underground, but there was a mountain above it. They entered through a cave but couldn't find the entrance.
"Gong Wentao, are you sure it's here?"
A Hong wished he could search the entire cave, but he found nothing.
"I'm sure. I saw Baili Xi's people coming and going here, and they were carrying things inside."
"Then why isn't there anything?"
A Hong, frustrated, leaned against the stone wall, took out a pack of cigarettes, and threw one to each person. He struck a match and lit his cigarette, tossing the burnt matchstick to the ground.
But it was this toss that caused trouble. The ground, as if fueled, instantly ignited, forming a dragon of fire.
"Damn it, quick, get out!"
The fire spread further and further. The group desperately ran outwards. By the time they all got out, even the cave entrance was on fire.
"What's going on? Is this a trap?"
Everyone looked at Gong Wentao.
Gong Wentao shook his head helplessly. He wasn't that devious.
"A Hong, are you all okay?"
At this moment, A Sen arrived with his team and rushed to hug A Hong, who looked at him in confusion.
"Why are you here?"
"It's all Baili Xi's fault. He said there was a trap in the laboratory, so Young Master Zi told us to hurry and stop you."
A Hong, with a cigarette still in his mouth, spat on the ground angrily.
"He's truly vicious. We haven't even found the entrance yet, and he's already planted explosives."
"We haven't found the entrance yet. That's good. Baili Xi said the trap was inside the laboratory."
Gong Wentao clenched his fists tightly. He felt he might have been tricked. This place was likely Baili Xi's designated burial ground for him.
But thinking about Baili Xi's temperament, if he had a scheme, he wouldn't wait long. It was probably arranged by the old man Baili.
"Are we still going to look for the entrance?"
"We need to look, but it won't be us looking. We need to find professionals. Also, this place must be destroyed. If someone accidentally enters it later, it will be a big problem."
Gong Wentao turned and looked at the mountain cave, suppressing his helplessness, and could only follow them down the mountain.
Meanwhile, the large team searching for Old Man Baili had also been fully dispatched, focusing their search on people with disabilities in the rural areas and suburbs of Chenghai City, bringing back everyone regardless of gender.
Gong Wentao returned to his designated holding cell, knowing that from now on, he was powerless to do anything for his Quan'er.
"Caught again?"
"Yes, Young Master Xi is currently in Zi Yisheng's hands."
The man chuckled instead of getting angry. He touched his face, his skin smooth and delicate, but one couldn't ignore the withered skin on his hands.
"He was always meant to be a substitute, with limited abilities. It's fine that he's caught. I have plenty of sons anyway. Let his death add another tally to the feud between me and Zi Yisheng."
"Yes."
"Proceed with the plan."
As the door closed, a person's fate was sealed.
Zi Yisheng sat at his desk, carefully contemplating Old Man Baili's potential tactics. After all, more than ten years had passed, and everyone had changed. Being in the open put him at a disadvantage.
"Ouyang, bring in the person surnamed Liao from the ten people we previously released. It's time we met him."
"But wasn't this matter dropped? The other party hasn't mentioned them since."
"There must be a reason they brought it up. We were just busy with other things and overlooked it. How's your investigation? What's his connection to the Liao family?"
Ouyang rummaged through a folder and handed a paper to Zi Yisheng.
"I couldn't find any connection between him and the Liao family. He's never even been to Mingcheng."
Zi Yisheng carefully examined the document and pointed to one item.
"The crime committed was the theft from the Chenghai City Secretary-General's home. The stolen amount was only two hundred and eighty yuan, yet he was sentenced to life imprisonment."
"Yes, it coincided with the severe crackdown in Chenghai City at the time, so the sentence was very harsh."
Zi Yisheng smiled and tossed the document onto the desk, picking up his teacup and taking a sip.
"I don't think so. Every place in the country has had severe crackdowns, but have you ever seen someone sentenced to life imprisonment for over two hundred yuan?"
"Summon the Secretary-General too."
Ouyang fell silent and quietly put the document back into the folder.
Zi Yisheng looked at Ouyang and put down his cup with a sigh.
"The person is gone?"
"Yes, this Secretary-General died in a car accident not long after the theft."
Zi Yisheng rubbed his temples and pondered for a moment.
"I also sent people to look for his family. They all disappeared within a year."
"Heh heh heh, they were quite efficient. Bring in the Secretary-General's direct superior."
"That would be Zhao Jiada."
Zi Yisheng sighed and waved his hand.
"Administer the drug to Zhao Jiada. The one surnamed He is also being difficult."
"Understood."
Ye Shenge arrived to find her husband sitting there with a dark expression. It seemed everything was not going smoothly. She sighed inwardly and walked behind him, gently massaging his head.
"Wife, what do you think the Baili family's next move will be?"
Ye Shenge thought for a moment. She wasn't someone who schemed, so she could only try to think from a common perspective.
"First of all, since Old Man Baili has endured for so many years before taking action, it's not because you've taken your position that he couldn't wait any longer. It's because he's made thorough preparations and is confident enough to act.
The people he has bribed over the years are all in preparation for the Baili family to regain power. Therefore, his main and only objective is that position above you, the position he has never held.
Also, he fears that one day you will occupy it, making it even harder for him. So, his primary target is you. But dealing with you is just the beginning. Think about it, even with his significant actions this time, they can't shake the situation, right?"
Zi Yisheng smiled and nodded, reaching out to pull his wife closer and embracing her.
"Well said, continue."
Ye Shenge nestled comfortably in his arms and continued to brainstorm.
"I believe his ultimate goal is that position above, and everything that comes with it. However, he hasn't dealt with you yet, so the main force is still focused on you.
"Correct, it's still on me. And with my children and family gone, only you and I are left. Only if I die can he proceed with his larger plan."
Zi Yisheng suddenly tapped the desk, his expression heavy.
"Therefore, this place is the next target."
Ye Shenge quickly sat up. Her husband spent all day in the office building and never left. To kill him, they would have to breach this place.
"Then what should we do?"
Zi Yisheng quickly patted his wife's back to comfort her.
"It's okay, then let him think I'm a fish on his chopping block."
The office building showed no outward changes. People who came to work normally still moved freely throughout the compound, and no additional guards were added to the perimeter.
However, on the third day, a car suddenly stopped outside the main gate with a screech of brakes. Just as the guards drew their weapons, a large blood-stained sack was thrown out.
The guards didn't chase the car. Instead, they expertly signaled for fully armed personnel to step forward and open the sack, while the rest retreated into the courtyard.
Zi Yisheng stood by the window, watching everything. When he saw the person revealed, he slowly closed his eyes.
"It's Old Pang."
Soon, the person was wrapped in protective gear and carried into the courtyard, disappearing from public view.
Meanwhile, medical personnel waiting in the basement, wearing the most advanced protective suits and masks provided by Ye Shenge, began emergency treatment.
"Body temperature dropping, blood pressure dropping, heart rate too slow."
"Begin emergency rescue immediately, send the blood sample out first."
Ye Shenge was also waiting for the drug that Baili Xi had mentioned, hoping for a breakthrough this time.
"If it's really Old Pang, the chances of survival are almost zero."
After all, being used as a vessel for potent poison made it very difficult to save someone.
"I know. I can only hope I'm wrong."
Old Pang's life had been difficult. Love, as a concept, was both cherished and hated.
Zi Yisheng hugged his wife, feeling fortunate that his love life was fulfilling.
Elder Fan and Elder Dang were also supposed to participate, but Ye Shenge strongly objected, so they had to wait in a nearby room.
Adjacent to the operating room was a temporary laboratory. All the experimental equipment inside was the most advanced from Ye Shenge's space. All the personnel were the best researchers rushed from Mingcheng.
Their orders were to find problems and solve them, and everyone worked as if facing a great enemy.
Meanwhile, Pang Puce, lying on the operating table, was slowly losing his life.
"Found it, quickly, in his stomach. Be extremely careful when removing it, don't break it."
The poison was encased in a transparent object like intestinal membrane. They could clearly see green liquid inside, so they had to be extremely careful not to break it.
"Patient's heartbeat has stopped."
"Cardiac stimulant, emergency resuscitation."
"The toxin has been removed."
"Isolate the container immediately."
The poison was contained under a large glass dome. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Ouyang knocked on the office door, his expression grave.
"Young Master Zi, the toxin has been found and safely transported to the laboratory."
"Good. Seal off all areas of the basement. No one can enter or leave."
Ouyang hesitated, and Zi Yisheng's heart sank.
"Pang Puce is dead."
Ye Shenge turned to look out the window. Would he soon be able to meet the real Fu Cunxue?
"Understood. Take care of the preservation, and after this is resolved, bury him in the Pang family's ancestral grave."
"Yes. We also found a small box on Pang Puce, but we were afraid of danger and didn't bring it up."
Zi Yisheng waved his hand. Ye Shenge suddenly felt that her husband had aged in that moment, his shoulders slightly slumped.
"They say that when the song ends, people disperse. But the song hasn't finished, and he couldn't hold on any longer."